Overchute feed apparatus for rotary printing machine

ABSTRACT

Auxiliary paper feeding mechanism for a duplicating machine in which an overchute tray with a secondary paper supply is placed above the main paper stock supply. The secondary supply of paper is fed into the duplicating machine by the same feeding apparatus as is used to feed the primary paper supply. Linkage and drive mechanisms for feeding the paper sheets from the overchute are attached to the working parts of the duplicator. Air pressure is directed to the tray to assist in separating the paper sheets for feeding. The overchute tray assembly can be removed or positioned to an inoperative condition without obstructing the normal feeding of paper from the primary supply into the machine.

Unite States Patent Keeler et al.

[54] OVERCHUTE FEED APPARATUS FOR ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE 5059 116thAve. 8.13., Bellevue, Wash. 98004 22 Filed: on. 1, 1969 211 Appl.No.:862,845

[52] US. Cl. ..101/232, 271/9, 271/26 [51 Int. Cl ..B65h 3/08 [58] FieldolSearch.... ..101/232-243, 132; 271/9, 5,11, 26

[56] References Cited UNITED, STATES PATENTS 2,352,088 6/1944 Evans2,492,577 12/1949 Janke ..271/9 [4 1 Jan. 18,1972

3,512,479 5/1970 McHenry et al. ..271/9 X Primary Examiner-4. ReedFisher Attorney-Graybeal, Cole & Barnard [5 7] ABSTRACT Auxiliary paperfeeding mechanism for a duplicating machine in which an overchute traywith a secondary paper supply is placed above the main paper stocksupply. The secondary supply of paper is fed into the duplicatingmachine by the same feeding apparatus as is used to feed the primarypaper supply. Linkage and drive mechanisms for feeding the paper sheetsfrom the overchute are attached to the working parts of the duplicator.Air pressure is directed to the tray to assist in separating the papersheets for feeding. The overchute tray assembly can be removed orpositioned to an inoperative condition without obstructing the normalfeeding of paper from the primary supply into the machine.

3 Claims, 1 1 Drawing Figures PATENTEU JAN i 8 H372 SHEET 1 OF 3 JF'IG===2 FF onm 'rl FEED TAILLI- lam-ma g5 HEI-EII FIZG==3 JACK D. KEELEREDMUND l. FAGAN ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJANIBIETZ 3 351159 SHEET 2 OF 3 JACKD. KEELER suuuuo I. FAGAN INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEYS BACKGROUND OF INVENTION This invention relates generally tothe art of paper feeding devices for such machines as offsetduplicators, and more particularly to an overchute feeder for asecondary supply of paper to be used in conjunction with a primarysupply of paper.

The sophistication and refinement of duplicating machinery in recentyears has advanced to the point where such machinery is virtuallyautomatic. In various types of business and industrial officeduplicating uses, however, there is frequent need for dissimilar paperstock to be fed into the duplicating cycle. The dissimilarity may be inits size, type or thickness, color, or preprinted information from themain paper supply. For instance, check imprinting requires that accountnumbers also be printed on deposit slips which are attached to a book ofchecks. Thus the problem has arisen that the automatic duplicatingoperation must be interrupted so that the dissimilar stock can bemanually fed to the machine. This defeats the purposes and advantages ofautomatic duplicating.

There are no accepted auxiliary devices for attaching for example to A.B. Dick offset duplicating machines to automate the feeding ofdissimilar sheets. Other attempts have been made but none have beenfound to be successful. Friction feed for instance has been attemptedbut it is not positive enough and therefore it is inconsistent andunreliable.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The overchute feeder mechanism of this inventioninvolves a tray assembly for holding a secondary paper supply. The trayis supported above the main paper supply and tilts into and out ofoperative position depending upon whether paper stock is being fed fromthe primary supply or whether it is being fed from the secondary supplyon the overchute feed. Linkages and other actuating mechanisms areadapted to the duplicator vacuum feed mechanism and other parts so thatthe same vacuum feed can be used for the paper in the overchute feedassembly. The overchute feed tray is tilted into position and itsactuating parts are designed to swing the vacuum feed of the duplicatorout of their normal feeding position. In addition, however, theoverchute assembly combines its own action with the machines normaloperation to swing the vacuum feet through a greater are but within thesame timing cycle as in normal operation. The vacuum feet can thenengage the secondary paper in the overchute tray and feed it into theduplicator forwarding rolls. With controls any combination or ratio ofsecondary sheets to primary sheets may be fed into the duplicatingmachine.

Accordingly, it is among the many features, advantages and objects ofthis invention to provide an overchute feed apparatus which utilizes theexisting vacuum feed in the duplicating machine. The overchute feed ofthis invention gives positive sheet separation by use of side blowers inthe tray. The vacuum foot face engages the individual top sheets so thatseparation of the top sheet from the second sheet is enhanced. It is afurther feature to provide an overchute feed mechanism which isrelatively simple and novel in design and relatively inexpensive incost. The overchute feed of this invention can be installed in the fieldas an adaptation to existing machines or as original equipment in newduplicators.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an environmental view of atypical duplicator machine with an overchute feed in position;

FIG. 2 is a frontal view of the control panel for the overchute feedcontrols housing;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the overchute tray assembly showingdetails thereof;

FIG. 4 is a partial view in perspective showing the vacuum feet paperfeed assembly and details of its actuating mechanism;

FIG. 4A is a partial top plan view of the actuating mechanism of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the tray assembly and feedactuating mechanism; and

FIGS. 6 through I0 are partial side elevational schematic views of theactuating mechanism which permits the vacuum feet to be used inconjunction with the main paper supply as well as the secondary papersupply in the overchute feed.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows a typical duplicatormachine 10 such as a floor model offset duplicator manufactured by theA. B. Dick Company. The duplicator will have main paper supply I2,sucker feet assembly 14, overchute tray assembly I6 and overchutecontrol box 18 with control panel and counter.

FIG. 3 shows the overchute feed tray assembly generally designated bythe number 16. The tray assembly includes channel supports 20 and 22 forsupporting the tray. Since the tray must be tilted into and out of itsoperative position, the channel supports 20 and 22 are generally biasedupwardly by tilt spring 24 attached to tilt shaft 26. The channelsupports 20 and 22 will pivot around shaft 26 andsuch supports areinterconnected by means not shown so that the channel supports willpivot together as a unit around shaft 26. Tray assembly 16 has main trayplate or base portion 28 which is slidably received in and between thechannel supports 20 and 22. Main tray 28 has side edges 30 and 32, inthis instance with upstanding edge wall, and also has back edge 34.L-shaped side guides 36 and 38 are mounted on the main tray 28 forvariable widths of paper by being slidably mounted in adjustment slots40 having tightening means not shown. A tray extension 42 is provided atthe back of main tray 28. A holding bail 44 is mounted in tray stopblocks 46 and 48 on each side of the tray assembly. Said blocks alsoengage the back edge of the channel supports 20 and 22 to hold the trayin position in said channels. Bail 44 may also be provided with paperpressures 50 and 52. The tray at its front has air pipe or duct 54connected to an inlet connector 56 and hose 58 from a diverter valve 86shown in FIG. 4. Air is admitted to air pipe 54 which in turndistributes the air to air guide ducts 60 and 62 on each side of thetray. Air guides 60 and 62 will have small holes or outlets therein fordirecting an airstream across the tray. The air blowing across the trayassists separation of the paper as individual sheets are taken off. Asolenoid assembly generally designated by the number 64 is located onone side of the duplicator machine and connected by pull rod 66 toconnector 68 mounted on the channel support 22. Actuation of thesolenoid assembly 64 results in rod 66 being pulled down which in turnmoves the front end of the tray downwardly into operating positionagainst the pressure of tilt spring 24. When the solenoid assembly isdeenergized, the front end of the tray will swing upwardly into itsinoperative position.

FIG. 4 shows generally details of the suction foot feed assembly 14 andits operating mechanism. The suction foot assembly includes a mainsupport shaft 70 and a support member and vacuum header 72 for thesuction feet. As can be seen, the main shaft 70 and support header 72are generally parallel and spaced apart and interconnected by the framemembers 74 and 76. Shaft 70 is fixed to the frame members 74 and 76while header 72 is mounted for rotational movement therein. Shaft 70 issecured for nonrotational movement to a bracket member 78 shownschematically in FIGS. 6 through 10. Header support member 72 hasattached thereto the depending vacuum pipes 80 and rubber vacuum feet 82which engage the paper and pass it from the primary and secondary paperstacks into the forwarding rolls in the duplicator machine. The vacuumfoot assembly thus far described is part of the original duplicatormachine. A vacuum hose 84 is connected to a vacuum pump in theduplicator. A hose 85 is one of three hoses connected to a divertervalve means 86 operated by solenoid 88. A line or hose 90 connectsdiverter valve 86 to the duplicator blower. The hose 85 directs air tothe original location at the duplicator main paper supply. The hose 58is attached to diverter valve 86 and as shown provides air pressure tothe overchute tray. The purpose of the diverter valve is to direct airselectively to the paper supply being used. Appropriate supportstructure for the diverter valve and solenoid is connected to theduplicator machine and is considered to require no description for thepurposes of setting forth the invention.

The mechanism for enabling the vacuum feet to pick up a sheet of paperfrom the paper stock piles is best illustrated in FIGS. 4 through 10.The end of header support 72 is rigidly attached at one end to anactuator lever 92 best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. Actuating lever 92 isbiased away from the machine or toward the back end of the tray byspring 94 appropriately anchored at its other end to stationarystructure. The tendency of the actuating lever 92 as a result of itsconnection to spring 94 is to bias or pivot header 72 away from themachine. An adapter frame piece 96 is mounted on the existing feeddouble-forwarding lever 97 of the duplicator in such manner as to act asan adapter, in conjunction with auxiliary forwarding member 98 and catch102, to duplicate the original motion of the vacuum feet 82 when theoverchute tray is not being used. In this regard double-forwarding lever97, before installation of the overchute mechanism, is engaged byfollower 14 attached to lever 92. When the double-forwarding lever ismoved towards the machine by means not shown header 72 and the vacuumfeet are also rotated. See FIG. 7. Thus the adapter frame piece 96,catch 102 and auxiliary forwarding lever 98 duplicate the action.

An auxiliary forwarding member 98 is pivotally mounted as at 100 to theupper end of frame piece 96. Attached to the lower end of frame piece 96is a pivotal lock or catch 102 which rotates around a pivot shaft 104connected to said frame piece 96. A pin 106 protrudes outwardly fromcatch 102 to be engaged by the tray when it is in operative position sothat catch 102 is forced downwardly to free auxiliary forwarding member98. Auxiliary forwarding member 98 and frame member 96 are provided withspace therebetween so that one end of a cam bar 108 can be pivotallyconnected to the auxiliary forwarding member 98 at pivot connection 110.It will be noted that when catch 102 is in its up position as shown forinstance in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7, auxiliary forwarding member 98 is securelyheld with respect to frame piece 96.

The back edge 112 of auxiliary forwarding member 98 forms a cam surfacefor rotatable follower 114 mounted on lever 92 on the outside surfacethereof by shaft 115 so that the cam follower 114 is between frame piece96 and lever 92. The action of the cam surface 112 and the cam follower114 is to insure that movement of the header 72 and vacuum feet 82 willbe generally vertical during the rapid raising and lowering operation ofthe feet as paper is being fed into the duplicator. Thedouble-forwarding member 97 is part of the duplicator and without theovershoot feed serves the same purpose as back edge 112 of member 98,namely to impart vertical direction to the up and down movements of thevacuum feet. Thus, follower 114 with the overchute feed attached rideson member 98 and not on member 97. In this regard see FIG. 4a. It willbe realized that the end of header 72 and lever 92 are dependent onframe member 96, auxiliary forwarding member 98 and catch 102 by virtueoffollower 114. A tab member 116 on one side of the front end of thetray is positioned to engage pin 106 on catch 102 so that the auxiliaryforwarding member can be released.

Cam bar 108 and its associated parts are added as part of the overchutefeed apparatus. It is pivotally connected as at 118 to lever 120 whichin turn is pivotally mounted on stationary pivot point 122. The otherend of lever 120 has cam follower 124 for engaging cam 126 mounted onshaft 128. Rotation of shaft 128 brings cam 126 into engagement withfollower 124 to move cam bar 1108 forward to feed paper forward fromoverchute stack 15. During feeding from the main paper stack 12, cam bar108, lever 120 and cam 1126 perform no function.

FIGS. 6 through 19, in conjunction with the other drawings, illustrateschematically the sequence of operations which take place in feedingpaper either from the main paper stack 12 or from the overchute feederpaper stack 15. A connector bar 130 which is part of the originaldupiicator equipment is attached to bracket 78 which is as mentionedabove fixedly secured to shaft 70. The purpose of connector bar 130 isto raise and lower header 72 by rotating shaft 70 through a short arc. Aspring 131 biases the bracket 78 rearwardly and thus urges the headerand vacuum feet downwardly. FIG. 6 shows the actuating mechanism in itsready to operate position. Catch 102 holds auxiliary forwarding lever 98in its locked and generally vertical position. Paper is to be taken offthe main paper supply 12 and fed into the duplicator. Connector bar 130is engaged with a cam actuator not shown so that the spring 131 urgesbracket 78 back as shown in FIG. 7. Since bracket 78 is rigidlyconnected to shaft 70, shaft 70 is rotated through a short are to lowerheader 72 and the vacuum feet 82 downwardly towards the top of thepaper. It will be noted that cam follower ll 14 rides on the backsurface 112 of forwarding member 98 so that the movement of the vacuumfeet regardless of angle of disposition is generally in a vertical up ordown direction. The vacuum feet engage a sheet of paper in main stack12, the vacuum is actuated and the feet pick up the paper and are raisedagain to begin forward movement. FIG. 8 shows that the frame piece 96attached to double-forwarding lever 97 is pivoted toward the machine.Pivoting of frame piece 96 toward the machine moves follower 114 towardthe machine thus swinging actuator lever on header 72 and pivoting thevacuum feet toward the forwarding rolls. In this way the front edge ofthe paper engages the forwarding rolls in the duplicator. The vacuum isreleased in the vacuum feet by the machines normal operating sequenceand the operation may be repeated as many times as desired. The normalmachine operation swings frame piece 97, auxiliary member 98, and catch102 back to the position in FIG. 6. Connector bar 130 keeps header 72raised to return the vacuum assembly to the position shown in FIG. 6.

When it is desired to take paper sheets off stack 15 on the overchutefeed tray, solenoid 64 actuates pull rod 66 and the inner or front endof the tray assembly 16 is lowered into the position shown in FIG. 5.Tab 116 on the tray engages pin 106 connected to catch 102 so that theauxiliary forwarding lever 98 is released. Actuator lever 92 is thenurged rearwardly by spring 94 to be stopped by contact of roller 132against cam surface 134 which guides the position of the vacuum feetduring raising and lowering. This permits the vacuum feet to be rotatedrearwardly of their normal position as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 9.Bracket 78 is then pivoted by connector bar 130 so that the vacuum feetare lowered to the overchute paper supply 15. The vacuum is actuated inthe feet 82 as shown in FIG. 10 to pick up a sheet of paper and theheader and vacuum feet are raised. The machines normal forwardingoperation is imparted to double-forwarding lever 97 and frame piece 96.In addition, however, cam bar 108 then comes into operation through cam126, lever 120, and member 98 through its action on lever 92. Cam 126 isshaped to increase the arcuate motion of the vacuum feet while retainingthe original timing of the paper forwarding action. Cam bar 108accordingly complements the forwarding action of double-forwarding lever97 and frame piece 96.

It sill be noted in FIG. 4 that header 72 at its opposite end has a camfollower 132 which engages a vertical cam surface 134. The purpose ofthe follower 132 and surface 134 is to stop rear motion at the desiredpoint and to ensure again that movement of the sucker feet will begenerally vertical during feeding from the overchute tray sinceforwarding lever 98 and its rear cam surface 112 have been released andare in the back position as shown for instance in FIGS. 5 and 9. Whenthe controls and counter indicate that the requisite number of papersfrom the stack 15 has been fed into the duplicator, the tray is releasedby solenoid 64 and it swings upwardly out of its operative position.Thus forwarding lever 98 will return to its normally locked position asshown in FIGS. 6 and 7 and the duplicator is then able to feed paperfrom the primary supply 12 as described.

What is claimed is:

i. In a duplicator-type paper printing machine which includes a rotaryprinting cylinder, a main paper supply, forwarding rolls for supplyingpaper to said printing cylinder, movable vacuum feet paper feed meansfor feeding paper to said forwarding rolls, and drive means foroperatively driving the various components of said duplicator, anoverchute feed apparatus comprising:

a. tray means for a secondary paper supply disposed generally above themain paper supply stack at an angle inclined downwardly and inwardlytoward said forwarding rolls, the front end of said tray means beingtiltable downwardly from an inoperative position for movement into anoperative position which will permit said vacuum feet feed means to moveover said tray means;

b. overchute actuator mechanism connected to said vacuum feet paper feedmeans and to said duplicator drive means so that when it is desired tofeed paper from said secondary paper supply on said tray means into saidduplicator said vacuum feet paper feed means are caused to move out oftheir normal path and pickup paper off said tray means and feed it tosaid forwarding rolls, said actuator mechanism including:

ll. biasing means for urging said vacuum feet feed means away from saidforwarding rolls,

2. catch means for holding said vacuum feet feed means in normalposition opposed to said biasing means for feeding paper from said mainpaper supply stack,

3. release means for unlatching said catch means and permitting saidvacuum feet feed means to move out of their normal path of travel intopickup position with respect to said secondary paper supply, and

4. cam-operated connector means operatively connected to said vacuumfeet feed means and which in conjunction with the duplicator drive meansmoves said feed means through a greater path of travel than normal butwithin substantially the same time cycle as for normal movement.

2. The overchute feed apparatus according to claim l and wherein a tiltmechanism is attached to said tray means for selectively tilting thesame into and out of its operative position.

3. The overchute feed apparatus according to claim 1 and wherein saidtray means includes air duct means with air outlet means for receivingair under pressure and directing the same through said air outlet meansacross said tray to assist in the separation of paper sheets in saidsecondary supply.

1. In a duplicator-type paper printing machine which includes a rotaryprinting cylinder, a main paper supply, forwarding rolls for supplyingpaper to said printing cylinder, movable vacuum feet paper feed meansfor feeding paper to said forwarding rolls, and drive means foroperatively driving the various components of said duplicator, anoverchute feed apparatus comprising: a. tray means for a secondary papersupply disposed generally above the main paper supply stack at an angleinclined downwardly and inwardly toward said forwarding rolls, the frontend of said tray means being tiltable downwardly from an inoperativeposition for movement into an operative position which will permit saidvacuum feet feed means to move over said tray means; b. overchuteactuator mechanism connected to said vacuum feet paper feed means and tosaid duplicator drive means so that when it is desired to feed paperfrom said secondary paper supply on said tray means into said duplicatorsaid vacuum feet paper feed means are caused to move out of their normalpath and pickup paper off said tray means and feed it to said forwardingrolls, said actuator mechanism including:
 1. biasing means for urgingsaid vacuum feet feed means away from said forwarding rolls,
 2. catchmeans for holding said vacuum feet feed means in normal position opposedto said biasing means for feeding paper from said main paper supplystack,
 3. release means for unlatching said catch means and permittingsaid vacuum feet feed means to move out of their normal path of travelinto pickup position with respect to said secondary paper supply, and 4.cam-operated connector means operatively connected to said vacuum feetfeed means and which in conjunction with the duplicator drive meansmoves said feed means through a greater path of travel than normal butwithin substantially the same time cycle as for normal moveMent. 2.catch means for holding said vacuum feet feed means in normal positionopposed to said biasing means for feeding paper from said main papersupply stack,
 2. The overchute feed apparatus according to claim 1 andwherein a tilt mechanism is attached to said tray means for selectivelytilting the same into and out of its operative position.
 3. Theoverchute feed apparatus according to claim 1 and wherein said traymeans includes air duct means with air outlet means for receiving airunder pressure and directing the same through said air outlet meansacross said tray to assist in the separation of paper sheets in saidsecondary supply.
 3. release means for unlatching said catch means andpermitting said vacuum feet feed means to move out of their normal pathof travel into pickup position with respect to said secondary papersupply, and
 4. cam-operated connector means operatively connected tosaid vacuum feet feed means and which in conjunction with the duplicatordrive means moves said feed means through a greater path of travel thannormal but within substantially the same time cycle as for normalmoveMent.